The moths are an important pollinator in California for the Lilium parryi, a rare lemon lily. As caterpillars you'll most likely find them on four o'clocks, evening primrose, grapes, tomatoes, purslane and fuchsia. As adults, the moths are most partial to nectar from clover, columbine, honeysuckle, lilac, larkspur, petunia and thistle flowers.

DEAR JOAN: I have enclosed a small number of some things that I have found in an outside closet on three separate occasions.

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I found the first batch three years ago; the most recent was found a couple of weeks ago. They are always on a ledge about 6 inches off the concrete floor of a closet accessed only through a locked, outside door.

I don't go in this closet often, so I don't know how frequently the "shells" are deposited there.

They are always in a close group and are always accompanied by what I believe are mouse droppings. I have caught a few over the 13 years I have lived here.

No one seems to know what they are and none of the nearby residents have ever found any of them on their property. Can you identify them for me?

John J. Cassidy

Walnut Creek

DEAR JOHN: I can't tell you exactly what they are, but they appear to be seeds of some sort that the mice have gathered and gnawed away all the savory bits, including the "nut" inside.

Take a look at the trees and shrubs you have nearby and you should be able to identify what plant they're coming from. Next, look to see where mice may be coming in -- mice can get through a hole as small as a dime -- and plug it up. Also, be careful when cleaning up. Wear gloves, long sleeves and a mask.

Mysterious droppings (Courtesy John J. Cassidy)

Save the cheetahs

With only 10,000 cheetahs living in the world, preserving the cats and their habitat is imperative.

Dr. Laurie Marker, the world's leading expert on the cheetah and founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, returns to her Bay Area roots for two lectures talking about the efforts to save the animals.

Meet Marker and learn about her efforts at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Leininger Community Center, Kelley Park, 1300 Senter Road, San Jose; and at 6 p.m. Tuesday, San Francisco Bay Marine Aquarium, The Embarcadero and Beach Street, San Francisco.